Stencil-printing machine



June 16, 1936. s., RQDMAN i I 2,044,738

STENC IL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2o, 1934 I 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

16, 1936. s. 'R'oDMAN sTENcIL PRINTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 FiledNov. 20, 1934 INVENTOR. v 5. Ro/WAM ATTORNEY.

Patented June 16, 1936 `STENCIL-PRINTING .MACHINE Samuel Rodman,Oakland', Calif.; assignor to Rodman `Duplicator Corporation, acorporation of gCalifornia .Application :November zo,19.34.,;seria1noui5a-957 9 claims. (ci. 271-761) My .invention relatesvto improvements in stencilprinting machines .and like rotarystencilwriting machines, and Ione of the `objects thereof is theprovision rof means associated with the main shaft-of the machinewhereby the operation of the latterwill Vcause Lsaid means to actuatefor elevating the stock-supporting table, whereby the top sheet of theVpaper stock .carried by the table will automatically be brought .intoproper :position for operatively moving orfeeding it to,

the printing at the desired moment relative to the .rotation of thedrum;

`A further object is the provision -of .a pair of retaining fingersadapted to .be engaged by the 1:5 `forward `edge of the paper stock.,:and 4particu-- larly the uppermost sheet of said stock, to prevent thesame from `movingiorwar-,ds accidently before the drum has beenoperatively `.rotated into proper position rfor `receiving Ithe paper,V

sheet by sheet; l

Astill further object is thelprovison of .a transversely extendingintermediate shaft having opposed end portion threaded `for movablysupporting the retaining -ngersrand their sui-pyioit-r ing block-s,Vwhereby said .ngers maybe iadjnsted -to the width of i the paper stockcarried aby the stock-supporting table; Y

A still further object is the Lprovisionoi rasecondary shaft extending`transversely iofithe imap.

0 chine and having a :bevel gear at each end meshing with .the bevelgears at the `upper :ends of a pair of vertically :disposedthreaded'screws :extending through andvertically :movably supporting apair of internally threaded lugs secured to the stock-supporting table,whereby the motation lof said secondary shaft .in the proper di.

rection will c-ause .said screws to ,rotate 'Land to move said lugsupwards or -downwards,. :as `the case may be, and to `causetlhestock-:Supporting :tame to move vertically in the ,same direction.-

With the foregoing and vsiii'll pf-urther ohiects and purposes in viewwillich appear ias .the description proceeds, my invention resides inthe combination and 'arrangement of parts and the details ofconstruotionlhereinaiter described and claimed, it beingjunderstood thatchanges in the precise embodiment :of the invention herein disclosed canbe made Within the Ascope of what is `claimed without fdeparting .fromthe spirit :of 59 the invention.` 1

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 aside elevationlof astencil-.printing machine embodying the present improvements.

55 side thereof;

Figure 2 isa view in elevation of the opposite than Figure 3 is a Viewof the .feeder shoe and its associating parts, principally in section.;

Figure 4 is a view `of of the ratchet lever and ratchet wheel associatedtherewith, portions of the lever being broken away.;

Figure k5 .is a top view of the machine; .Figure v6 is a .rear end Viewthereof;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the outer end portion oi the ratchet .leveryand portions of par-ts associated therewith;

VFigure `8 is .a View of the intermediate shaft and `slider blocks -andretaining iingers carried thereby ,Figure il is .a top view of .aportion of Aone `of the 3slider blocks and its retaining ringer, `and aragmfental portion Aof asheet of paper;

Figure .l0 ,is -a view in elevation of a portion of one -of the sliderblocks and retaining .fing-er, Vand a portion of the paper stock; and

.Figure i1 is .a view-.in perspective `of the Iguide bar.

Referring :to the drawings in detail, throughout which like ,referencecharacters designate like parts.:

.(To iacilitate .associating the following description `with thedrawings, the .side k.of themachine presented to the reader in Fig. 2.,is `deemed the right-hand side thereof; the yopposite side, thevleftfhand--sideg the .end next .to the righthand side-.of the drawingsheet, the front .or fol? Ward end; and the lend. next to the left-hand.side

of 4the sheet, the rear end of the machine.)

The machine propenand in which itis .in general common with mimeographsatY present in general use, comprises Va .frame I, supported Eby frontand .rear legs 2., a stencil-supporting drum 3J which is .supported vbya main shaft 4, rotatably supported by the .frame I and operated by acrank handle 5. The usual transversely extending roller .6 is rotatablymounted Yon the frame I v.below .the drum 3, with which it coacts forfeeding the paper stock operatively therebetween.

'I'he rear legs 2 .are provided with inwardly projecting lugs TI havingvertical openings 8, and inwardly extending brackets 9 providedWithiopenings Ill and II.

of `the brackets 9,

On one end of the shaft I5, intermediate the gear I4 and the bracket 9,is xedly secured a ratchet wheel I6, while at the opposite end of saidshaft is removably secured a crank handle I'I.

On the main shaft 4, adjacent the right-hand side of the machine, andintermediate the frame I and drum 3, is excentrically xedly mounted acam or disk I8 to provide an excentric bearing for one end of areciprocating lever I9, the opposite end of said lever being bifurcatedto form a pair of spaced members 28, which are adapted to straddle theratchet wheel I6, and support a transversely disposed ratchet pin 2 Iwhich is operatively engageable with the teeth of said ratchet wheel forrotating the shaft I5.

22 designates the stock-supporting table, which is provided with, andsupported by, a pair of supporting-lugs 23, through which the screws I2project and by the rotation of which screws, in either direction, saidlugs and the table may be operatively raised or lowered, as desired,relative to the frame I.

To the rear end of the table 22 is removably secured a rear stop 24,against which the paper stock carried by the table is inten-ded to abutfor holding it in proper position thereon preparatory to feeding it,sheet by sheet, between the drum and its coacting roller 6.

The rear stop 24 is preferably formed and connected to the table 22 insuch a manner as to be movable rearwards and forwards thereon, toconform to the various dimensions of the paper stocks that may becarried on the table.

A transversely extending guide bar 25, having its upper edge formed intoan upwardly projecting guide rib 26, is secured to opposite sides of theframe I by means of fastening pins 21.

To opposite sides of the frame I, forwardly of the bar 25 and inparallelism therewith, is rotatably secured an intermediate shaft 28,which is provided adjacent its ends with right and left threadedportions 29, which portions project through the internally threadedopenings 39 in guide blocks 3I, which supports upwardly projectingoutwardly inclined retardingfingers 32.

The guide blocks 3l, which are adapted to be moved transversely towardsand away from each other by the rotation of the shaft 28 to correspondto the width of the paper stock carried by the table 22, have grooves 33formed in their lower sides, which grooves slidably receive the rib 25and are thereby prevented from rotating about the axis of the shaft 28during the rotation of the latter.

To the end of the main shaft 4, on the lefthand side of the machine, isfixedly secured an arm 34, to the free end of which is pivotally securedone end of a connecting link 35, the opposite end of which link beingpivotally secured to the upper end of a rocker-arm 36, Which has itslower end pivotally secured to the frame I, by means of securing pins31.

To the rocker-arm 36, intermediate its upper and lower ends, is secured,preferably xedly, one end of a transversely disposed rocker-rod 38, theopposite end cf which being secured, preferably fixedly, to theupperen-d of a complemental rocker-arm 29, pivoted at its lower end tothe frame I by means of a fastening pin 40.

A feeder-shoe 4 I, which comprises a frame element embodying a pair ofside members 42, a pair of tie-pins 43 for holding said side members infixed spaced relation, and a flexible cushion element 44 removablysecured to said side members 42 by means of a bolt 45 projecting throughsaid cushion element and between said side members and tie-pins andsecured by means of a nut 46 and seating plate 41 seated on saidtie-pins, is pivotally secured to the mid-portion of the rocker-rod 38by means of openings 48 in one end of the side members 42 through whichthe rockerrod movably projects. The feeder-shoe 4I is freely swingableon the rocker-rod 38 but is limited in its movement longitudinally ofthe rockerrod by means of a collar 49 xedly but movably secured to saidrocker-rod between said side members 42, by means of a set-screw 42.

While I-prefer to forrn the cushion element 44 of rubber, rubber sponge,or similar material, it may,rif so preferred, be formed of any othermaterial or substance found suitable and appropriate.

The guide blocks 3 I, together with their retarding fingers 32, areadapted to function as the forward stops, and the rear stop 2,4 as therear end stop, between which the paper stock carried by the table 22 isintended to be disposed preparatory to operatively feeding it, sheet bysheet, from the top thereof, to the drum 3 and roller 6. The rear endstop 24 is preferably movable for- Wards and rearwards, as may berequired, relative to the table 22, to conform to the dimensions of saidstock, so that the latter may be caused to fit snugly, but not tootightly, between said front and rear stops.

The retarding fingers 32, particularly the upper or free end portionsthereof, are adapted to also function as means for temporarily holdingthe forward edge of the uppermost sheet of the paper stock from movingforward immediately upon the forward movement of the mid or intermediateportion thereof when engaged by the feeder-shoe 4I. Such forwardmovement of said mid or intermediate portion of the sheet, willl causeportions of the sheet, rearward of said fingers, to bulge slightlyupwards, freeing it from the next sheet below and thereby permitting itto freely move forwards at the proper and prearranged time withoutcarrying said next sheet accidently along with it. Such temporaryretainment of the front edge of the sheet does not interfere with thefull forward movement of the sheet, during the operation of the machine,for proper registration with the characters cut in the stencil carriedby the drum 3, as the retainment of said front edge of the sheet is onlytemporary and does not retard the prearranged and properly timedmovement of the main body of the sheet.

The extent of engagement of said upper or free end portion of thefingers 32 with the top sheet of the paper stock, is regulatable by themovement of the guide blocks 3I along on the intermediate shaft 28 byrotating the latter in the required direction.

A lsheet metal shield 5D, preferably semi-circular in cross section, isdisposed transversely of the machine over portions of the secondaryshaft I5 and the bevel gears I3 and I4. A slot 5I is formed in the upperside of the shield to permit the members 20 of the arm I9 tofreely movetherebetween and the ratchet pin 2| to operatively engage and rotate theratchet Wheel I5.

A lever 52, which is pivoted at one end to the shield 50, is swingableacross the slot 5I, thereby permitting the free end of the arm I9 to beraised out of engagement with the ratchet wheel I6 and be temporarilysupported thereon, thereby permitting the drum and its associated partsto be operated without rotating the shaft I5 and screws |2`ffr'eievating metselen; as wen aslpenaittmg the said `shaft 'lateberotatedfby means cf the crankmandle l1, for turning the'screws 12 andelevating or `lcv-vering the tane, independently or the rotation 'of theernia 3, I

` mercerie-prevent thickening ci the drawing;

the transversely extending guideebar 25,V gaude-r retarding fingers 32,after which the end stop 24 is secured to the table so as to bearlightly against the rear end of said stock. After confining the paperbetween said guide-blocks and retarding fingers and the rear stop 24,against accidental fore and aft movement relative to the table, the

free or bifurcated end of the reciprocating lever I9 is lifted free fromengagement with the ratchet wheel I6 and temporarily disposed on thelever 52 after swinging the latter from its normal position shown by thebroken lines into the position indicated by the solid lines, inV Fig. 7.The secondary i shaft I5 is next rotated in the proper direction,

by means of the crank-handle I1, for rotating the screws I2 andelevating or lowering, as may be required, the table 22, until the topsheet of the stock 53 is disposed in the desired vertical alignment withthe upper end portion of the retarding ngers 32 (see Figs. 9 and. l0),after which the intermediate shaft 28 is rotated to move theguide-blocks 3| horizontally along thereon in the proper direction untilthe said upper end portions of the retarding fingers 32 are brought intoposition for properly engaging the opposed forward corners of theuppermost sheet of said paper stock. After elevating or lowering thetable 22, as above described, for properly aligning the paper with theretarding lingers 32, the feeder-shoe 4I is disposed in engagement withthe upper surface of said paper, in the position thereon bestillustrated in Figs. 2 and 5.

The machine is now ready, after first swinging the lever 52 out fromunder the free end of the reciprocating lever I9 and disposing thelatter` once more into operative engagement with the ratchet wheel I6,for printing, -sheet after'sheet, the paper comprising the paper stockcarried by the table 22, which printing, including the feeding of thepaper sheets to the drum 3, is automatically accomplished by simplyrotating the crankhandle 5 in the proper direction (anti-clockwise),causing the drum 3 and the arm 34 to rotate in the same direction and inunison therewith; the rocker-arm 34 actuating the connecting link 35 andthe rocker-arms 36 and 38, thereby causing the rocker-rod 31 to swing oroscillate forwards and backwards, deiining a complete cycle of movementat each revolution of the said drum 3 and arm 34, and thereby causingthe feeder-shoe 4I, which has one end pivotally secured to saidrocker-rod 31 and having its free end portion bearing on the paper stock53, to move backwards and forwards on said stock in synchronism with thesaid forward and backward swinging or oscillation of said rocker-rod 31,and to engage and move the top sheet of said paper forward to beoperatively engaged by the drum 3 and its coacting roller B, inprearranged order of movement with said drum and roller for receivingproper l 3 contact with, the printing characters in the .primaing-stencil attached tosaia arma. f Y

` I claim: l

1. In-'a stencil-printing machine of the charter described, a frame, aguide-bar extending4 y transversew or said frameandhaving itsencsiixedly secured to opposite sides thereof, an intermediate shaftdisposed in parallelism with said guide-bar and having its endsrotatably supported by said frame, a pair of guide-blocks through whichsaid intermediate shaft threadedly projects, said guide-blocks beingmovable relative to and in parallelism with said guide-bar by therotation of said intermediate shaft, said guideblocks supporting meansadapted to be operatively engaged by the forwardly disposed edge of asheet of paper and to temporarily retard it preparatory to feeding it tothe printing drum of the machine.

3. In a stencil-printing machine of the character described, a frame, anintermediate shaft having its ends rotatably supported by said frame andhaving opposed end portions threaded, means disposed in parallelism withsaid shaft and supported by said frame, and a pair of retardingfinger-supporting elements threadedly engaging said threaded portionswhereby by rotation of said intermediate shaft said elements will belcaused to move in opposite directions longitudinallyof said shaft, saidmeans functionable for preventing rotation of said elements relative tosaid shaft.

4. In a, stencil-printing machine of the character described, a frame,an intermediate shaft having its ends rotatably supported by said frame,

a guide-block through which said shaft threadedly projects, and anupwardly projecting retarding finger having Yits lower end secured tosaid guide-block, said retarding finger inclined in a vertical planeextending transversely of said frame.

5. In a stencil-printing machine of the. character described, a frame,an intermediate shaft having its ends rotatably supported by said frame,a. guide-block through which said shaft threadedly projects, and anupwardly projecting retarding finger having its lower end supported bysaid guide-block, said retarding finger-having its upper end bent to oneside relative to its intermediate body portion.

6. In a stencil-printing machine of the character described including aframe and a printing drum rotatably supported thereby, paper-retardingmeans supported by said frame, and means supported by said frame adaptedfor moving said paper-retarding means in either direction parallel tothe axis of said drum.

7. In a stencil-printing machine of the character described having aframe portion rotatably supporting a printing drum, a guide bar havingits opposed end portions supported by said frame, and paper-retardingmeans supported by said guide bar and operably slidable along thereon ineither direction in parallelism with the axis of said drum.

8. In a stencil-printing machine of the character described having aframe portion rotatably supporting a printing drum, in combination, a

stock-supporting table vertically movably supported by saidframe,fpaperretarding means supported by said frame between said tableand said drum, said paper-retarding meansl adapted to operativelycontact and temporarily arrest the forward movement of a portion of theforward end portion of the uppermost sheet of said paper stock, andmeans supported by said frame manually operable for moving saidpaper-retarding means in either direction parallel to the axis of saiddrum independent of the rotation of said drum.

9. In a stencil-printing machine of the characterdescribed including aframe portion rotatably supporting a printing drum, a stock-supportingtable vertically movably supported by said frame, and paper-retardingmeans supported by said frame and horizontally movable in eitherdirection in a vertical plane parallel to the axis of said drum withoutchanging the position thereof vertically, said table adapted forsupporting paper stock, the path of travel of said paper stock from saidtable to said drum cross- 10 ing said vertical plane.

v SAMUEL RODMAN.

